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Junaid, Riaz restrict Sri Lanka

Jayawardena falls for four in final Test as home side ends day one on 261 for 8

Junaid Khan picked up 4 for 69 as Sri Lanka was restricted to 261 for 8.

Junaid Khan, the left-arm pacer, led Pakistan's fightback after a strong start by Sri Lanka's batsmen on the opening day of the second and final Test on Thursday (August 14). Junaid picked up 4 for 69 off his 21 overs to restrict Sri Lanka, cruising along at one stage, to 261 for 8 by the time stumps were drawn at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. Junaid was ably supported by Wahab Riaz, his new-ball partner who took 3 for 66 off 16.1 overs to pull Pakistan back into the game.

Upul Tharanga and Kaushal Silva, the openers, got Sri Lanka team off to a solid start after Angelo Mathews elected to bat first. The duo put on 79 in 32.5 overs when Junaid provided the breakthrough that Pakistan needed, having Silva caught behind for a patient 41.

Tharanga, however, carried on and added 65 for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka's in-form batsman, who scored a double century - the tenth of his career - in the first Test. Sangakkara, however, had a rare failure as he departed for 22 when Riaz broke through his defences.

Thereafter, Sri Lanka suffered a collapse, as Pakistan's bowlers were unrelenting and constantly struck. Mahela Jayawardena, playing in his final Test, was trapped in front by Saeed Ajmal for 4. Riaz then got a second wicket, removing Tharanga, who fell eight short of a century, thanks to a sharp catch by Azhar Ali.

Brief partnerships of 38 between Mathews (39) and Lahiru Thirimanne (20) for the fifth wicket and 34 between Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella (24), the wicketkeeper, followed. However, neither was enough to make a significant impact.

Mathews, one of Sri Lanka's most consistent batsmen in recent times, seemed set to see out the remaining overs and come out afresh . But Riaz ensured that did not happen as he had the Sri Lanka captain caught behind with a short one that kissed the glove off what turned out to be the last ball of the day.